Heliophilia
New words for you:
Heliophilia: Love for sunlight
Diurnal: daytime activity/non-nocturnal
Humans crave that warm sunny glow, that fuzzy ‘ahhh’ feeling for us to relax or play. Moods improve, wellbeing improves, it’s just a wholesome time for everyone.
101: Benefits of sunlight
- Vitamin D. That good ol’ friend.
We need it for bone development, muscle strength, and it’s made mainly through our skin’s reaction with UVB (from the sun) (1).
- Serotonin (positive ‘feel good’ hormone)
Produced during the day, and is converted to melatonin in darkness. It boosts our mood, and also improves memory and cognition (2).
Most of us are heliophiliacs (my new favourite word). We’re meant to function and thrive in the day (ie diurnal), so we want as much time outside rather than cooped up in artificial lighting and tight areas.
So why are most classes indoors? Besides P.E, we’re expected to sit still and focus in a glaring white light similar to a doctor’s room. It’s not nice.
For example, take a science class:
Instead of teaching photosynthesis in a lecture hall or classroom, take them outside to where the plants actually are. Let them touch it, observe it, breathe in the fresh air.
It’ll do everyone some good.
